No two people walk alike nor swing alike. Golf is a results game. Donald's swing is near perfect for him. To the extent it is imperfect is the extent by which his swing prevents him attaining his potential, but not how his swing differs from someone else's.
I was under the impression that it was result's & consistency that count's & not how pretty a swing may or may not be Tourswing!!! Fact is if a said player is Nr1 in the world ranking's & the other player Nr21 does that not mean that the Nr1 in the world is a better player? Also is it not true to say it's a case of how many & not how that is recorded on the scorecard??
Luke has a hand release, Mannasero/Mahan have more of a body release. The hand release is biomechanically much more efficient than a body release, so I disagree about it being a power loss. If we are looking for an efficient kinetic chain then the body SHOULD decelerate into impact to produce max clubhead speed. He's actually working on getting his hands higher at the top of the swing in 2011. I disagree he manipulates the hands-its just an efficient hand release.
EagleEyegolfer is right and cwytonweb also, another note is this are swings from the c swing analyse program from about 6 jears ago!!!!!!!! Make your same analyse on the 2011 swing from Donald!!!!!!!!
One thing you might keep in mind is that Donald is on the practice tee, so you can't be sure what kind of shot he may be hitting or what he may be working on practice wise. On the other hand, the swing you show of Hunter's looks to be on the course.
Whenever possible it's better to use a swing from an event. That way you have a better chance knowing what kind of shot is being attempted. When you compare two great golf swings they really need to be the same type of shot.
You can find alot wrong with a golf swing if you look hard enough. But the last time I checked, Luke Donald is #1 in the World. Leading money winner on PGA and European Tour 2011. Looks good to me, lol.
However I wonder whether it might be time for you and the rotational advocates to re-consider what you are teaching given the success and consistency of Luke and before him players like Els, Tiger and Faldo.
If rotational swings are the way to go why aren't they the very best players in the world?
So let me see If I understand what you are saying Dan ~ If I understand you correctly I could learn to swing like Hunter Mahan & be number 19 in the world rankings or swing like Luke Donald & be number 1 ~ Is this correct????
@merv315 In defence of Dan-Lukes strength is his short game-he puts pitches and short irons 3 foot closer than the PGA tour average-the stats on fairways hit/longer irons are pretty similar.
Don't really agree with a lot of what you say with Luke's swing, its seems odd you critisize his swing when he is the best golfer in the world, bar none and praising Hunter's. Do you really think if he made the critisicms you make he will be the best? I doubt it.
I dont agree Luke is "very active in hands" at all. Look where his clubhead is on top - almost already att 90deg to down swing shaft path. I can bet you this player has *less* handsy release action than most PGA pros. Don't confuse follow through swivel with release.
@sniffy45 you are mental Luke Donald would not be no 1 in the world if he had a simple flaw that would cause him to be "done or fanito" think about what you say before you say it, and this guys swing analysis is awful
@grantdavid7 its not its a very good analysis. luke is world number 1 because he has the best short game in the world and is very accurate with short irons. however, he really struggles with the driver. struggles with both power and accuracy due to the flippy release. this is i think the reason he hasnt won a major. when courses are set up really long, tight and penal you cannot afford to be short and inaccurate with the driver. you need one or the other, preferably both!
I think this guy is over-reaching a bit on his cause and effect analysis. Yes, he employs a lot of face-rotation through impact, but is not manipulation, face rotation like that can only happen if you employ lack of forearm tension and simply let the club go through impact freely. Anyone who TRIES to do that will never break 90.
Contrary to the views of others who see a hippy/flippy timing shortcoming in Luke's motion I see control of the club thru good impact alignments. In the couple of frames @ 11:26: flat left wrist, right forearm on plane, etc, all the way to both arms straight. After that, why care how fast the hands recock?
Very good analysis, exactly the sane points I would have made. For those having a bitch I think this video is merely pointing out varying techniques...I totally agree with one comment , as soon as his timing is gone, he 's in the shit. At the of the day, extremely hi levels of TALENT & mental strength create champions not just technique.
@sniffy45 Like Phil? He's a player who's all about timing too, he's very much a left handed Donald, if he doesn't throw his hands through impact than his swing path will make him hit a block every time. When Phil struggles it's with the Block, or the hook, which is a result of not wanting to block it so he flips his hands over through impact. But hey, Phil's been very successful for 15 years now, so who says luke can't be too.
@vikramg2 Then why is the club hitting down hard into the ball and bottoming out after impact? C'mon, man. Just because he drives up with his hips doesn't mean he's trying to scoop, he recocks his wrist after impact because it's whats natural when one drives their hips up like that. Hard to swing it around your body and not recock them when you have that hip action. For players with flatter planes it's completely different and they release around their body, but Luke doesn't have a flat plane.
Google "AJ golf little bat" it talks about using the club correctly and releasing the right way. Once I learned that I stopped wasting my time on any part of the rest of my swing. I don't keep a handicap but I shoot in the 80's most of the time. Without ever releasing the club. I'm trying the "little bat" idea on the range and it feels effortless. I'll be trying it at the course today, I'm looking to get more consistent off the tee.
@armandoartist Yeah I got the same video and it actually increased my distance off the tee and irons. And it's not flipping the club, it's pronating. Flipping is the kiss of death! Luke mastered the pronating aspect in his swing that's how he's able to get effortless distance. The Remote Control concept helped.
This is wonderful analysis, though I'd agree with some here that you can't argue with results.One question I have for anybody here that cares to respond: I have a bad habit of holding on and NOT releasing. I compensate by strengthening my left hand, but I often still block, and think it might be good for me to release the heck out of it as Donald does - just to learn how to let it go. Reasonable idea?
If you have that much lateral motion, you need great tempo and timing, which Donald has. OTOH, he's not the straightest driver in the world. Low lofted club plus lots of face rotation with tend to make you erratic. He's a lot like Ollie in this regard great ball striker with the irons, spray it around with the driver.
Interesting analysis on two different types of swings. I'm just not so sure your favoritism to the mahan swing is meaningful. I'm not convinced at all that Luke's re-cocking of the wrists is "manipulation". That re-cocking is a natural reaction to gravity if you use your wrists as an oily, centrifugal hinge. Also, why is it that so many handsy players like Donald and Watson are doing so well on tour? Could it have something to with the fact that the fingers are extremely sensitive human organs?
Luke is now world number one, and 10 yards longer than Manassero ... Mahan is 92nd in Driving Distance and 85th in Driving Accuracy, so it's maybe not the best 'reference'.
This is called body weight transfer, it is a method that many golfers use to get rid of a bad shot, 9 times out of 10 it is a hook. Which Luke Donald used to struggle with. On the down swing he coils his legs downwards and moves his weight onto the left side to make his finish more square to the ball instead of him leaning back on the shot and simply losing his balance.
This is a great video, and a great analysis. I'll have to analyze my own swing a little bit better than what I was doing before.....because I tired, of hitting sloppy, salimy fades!
What a strange set of comparisons, as someone else said manessaro is probably the shortest hitter on tour and Mahan is an average ball striker. Luke has always been one of the most consistent iron players on tour, maybe we should start teaching feel rather than mechanics and we might start producing a few more great players.
Great analysis! Similar looking initial takeaway but great emphasis on the differences from there on....... really helping me with my understanding of my own swing!!
...well, does modern work that much better?
I suppose winning both, the us and european money list shows how much effective his swing is!
he does not have"active" hands, they uncock just by gravity and he lets the weight of the club do the work, I think!
i recommend taht swing to most of my lessons, because you can generate a lot mor accuracy and power if you are just a"standard, average" golfer!
regards, stefan
TheStevesJob 6 days ago
No two people walk alike nor swing alike. Golf is a results game. Donald's swing is near perfect for him. To the extent it is imperfect is the extent by which his swing prevents him attaining his potential, but not how his swing differs from someone else's.
eeldergill 6 days ago
I was under the impression that it was result's & consistency that count's & not how pretty a swing may or may not be Tourswing!!! Fact is if a said player is Nr1 in the world ranking's & the other player Nr21 does that not mean that the Nr1 in the world is a better player? Also is it not true to say it's a case of how many & not how that is recorded on the scorecard??
merv315 2 weeks ago
Luke has a hand release, Mannasero/Mahan have more of a body release. The hand release is biomechanically much more efficient than a body release, so I disagree about it being a power loss. If we are looking for an efficient kinetic chain then the body SHOULD decelerate into impact to produce max clubhead speed. He's actually working on getting his hands higher at the top of the swing in 2011. I disagree he manipulates the hands-its just an efficient hand release.
Tourswing 2 weeks ago in playlist More videos from ralphsunnyside
Nice eval Don. Not familiar with your name but think you made very valid points about Luke's swing.
JuniorGolfAcademy 4 weeks ago
EagleEyegolfer is right and cwytonweb also, another note is this are swings from the c swing analyse program from about 6 jears ago!!!!!!!! Make your same analyse on the 2011 swing from Donald!!!!!!!!
richhees 1 month ago
One thing you might keep in mind is that Donald is on the practice tee, so you can't be sure what kind of shot he may be hitting or what he may be working on practice wise. On the other hand, the swing you show of Hunter's looks to be on the course.
Whenever possible it's better to use a swing from an event. That way you have a better chance knowing what kind of shot is being attempted. When you compare two great golf swings they really need to be the same type of shot.
Just my opinion.
cwytonweb 1 month ago
You can find alot wrong with a golf swing if you look hard enough. But the last time I checked, Luke Donald is #1 in the World. Leading money winner on PGA and European Tour 2011. Looks good to me, lol.
EagleEyeGolfer 1 month ago
Isnt luke number 1? Whats this guy trying to say
stebrandon1 1 month ago
Not sure who this fellow is but what a clown he is .fact luke is a 2 planer and hunter is 1 planer no method is best.
cutekitty657 1 month ago
Dan- enjoyed the analysis.
However I wonder whether it might be time for you and the rotational advocates to re-consider what you are teaching given the success and consistency of Luke and before him players like Els, Tiger and Faldo.
If rotational swings are the way to go why aren't they the very best players in the world?
SwordofDobar 1 month ago
So let me see If I understand what you are saying Dan ~ If I understand you correctly I could learn to swing like Hunter Mahan & be number 19 in the world rankings or swing like Luke Donald & be number 1 ~ Is this correct????
merv315 1 month ago
@merv315 In defence of Dan-Lukes strength is his short game-he puts pitches and short irons 3 foot closer than the PGA tour average-the stats on fairways hit/longer irons are pretty similar.
Tourswing 2 weeks ago in playlist More videos from ralphsunnyside
it looks hard but i can do it.
ianisgold 2 months ago
Hi
Don't really agree with a lot of what you say with Luke's swing, its seems odd you critisize his swing when he is the best golfer in the world, bar none and praising Hunter's. Do you really think if he made the critisicms you make he will be the best? I doubt it.
blueice2006 2 months ago
I dont agree Luke is "very active in hands" at all. Look where his clubhead is on top - almost already att 90deg to down swing shaft path. I can bet you this player has *less* handsy release action than most PGA pros. Don't confuse follow through swivel with release.
4JRimmer 2 months ago
Superswing. Geometrically square clubhead on top & perfect lateral motion in downswing.
I love it.
4JRimmer 2 months ago
@sniffy45 you are mental Luke Donald would not be no 1 in the world if he had a simple flaw that would cause him to be "done or fanito" think about what you say before you say it, and this guys swing analysis is awful
grantdavid7 2 months ago
@grantdavid7 its not its a very good analysis. luke is world number 1 because he has the best short game in the world and is very accurate with short irons. however, he really struggles with the driver. struggles with both power and accuracy due to the flippy release. this is i think the reason he hasnt won a major. when courses are set up really long, tight and penal you cannot afford to be short and inaccurate with the driver. you need one or the other, preferably both!
themothmanreturns 2 months ago
@themothmanreturns *you need to be long or accurate that is.
themothmanreturns 2 months ago
He should've compared the follow though to Zack Johnsons.
piccalocb 2 months ago
I think this guy is over-reaching a bit on his cause and effect analysis. Yes, he employs a lot of face-rotation through impact, but is not manipulation, face rotation like that can only happen if you employ lack of forearm tension and simply let the club go through impact freely. Anyone who TRIES to do that will never break 90.
MrLuigiFercotti 2 months ago
Contrary to the views of others who see a hippy/flippy timing shortcoming in Luke's motion I see control of the club thru good impact alignments. In the couple of frames @ 11:26: flat left wrist, right forearm on plane, etc, all the way to both arms straight. After that, why care how fast the hands recock?
gwmerr 3 months ago
Very good analysis, exactly the sane points I would have made. For those having a bitch I think this video is merely pointing out varying techniques...I totally agree with one comment , as soon as his timing is gone, he 's in the shit. At the of the day, extremely hi levels of TALENT & mental strength create champions not just technique.
GOLFGURUJIM 3 months ago
too shifty, once he looses his timing, done, fanito.
sniffy45 3 months ago
@sniffy45 Like Phil? He's a player who's all about timing too, he's very much a left handed Donald, if he doesn't throw his hands through impact than his swing path will make him hit a block every time. When Phil struggles it's with the Block, or the hook, which is a result of not wanting to block it so he flips his hands over through impact. But hey, Phil's been very successful for 15 years now, so who says luke can't be too.
ensigndevyn24 3 months ago
He is clearly trying to scoop the ball ..
vikramg2 4 months ago
@vikramg2 Then why is the club hitting down hard into the ball and bottoming out after impact? C'mon, man. Just because he drives up with his hips doesn't mean he's trying to scoop, he recocks his wrist after impact because it's whats natural when one drives their hips up like that. Hard to swing it around your body and not recock them when you have that hip action. For players with flatter planes it's completely different and they release around their body, but Luke doesn't have a flat plane.
ensigndevyn24 3 months ago
Horrible. How about analyzing from a square camera angle?
jrs1085 4 months ago
@sweetstoats
Google "AJ golf little bat" it talks about using the club correctly and releasing the right way. Once I learned that I stopped wasting my time on any part of the rest of my swing. I don't keep a handicap but I shoot in the 80's most of the time. Without ever releasing the club. I'm trying the "little bat" idea on the range and it feels effortless. I'll be trying it at the course today, I'm looking to get more consistent off the tee.
armandoartist 4 months ago
@armandoartist Yeah I got the same video and it actually increased my distance off the tee and irons. And it's not flipping the club, it's pronating. Flipping is the kiss of death! Luke mastered the pronating aspect in his swing that's how he's able to get effortless distance. The Remote Control concept helped.
piccalocb 2 months ago
This is wonderful analysis, though I'd agree with some here that you can't argue with results.One question I have for anybody here that cares to respond: I have a bad habit of holding on and NOT releasing. I compensate by strengthening my left hand, but I often still block, and think it might be good for me to release the heck out of it as Donald does - just to learn how to let it go. Reasonable idea?
sweetstoats 4 months ago
beautiful!!! :)
Titleistguy2 4 months ago
If you have that much lateral motion, you need great tempo and timing, which Donald has. OTOH, he's not the straightest driver in the world. Low lofted club plus lots of face rotation with tend to make you erratic. He's a lot like Ollie in this regard great ball striker with the irons, spray it around with the driver.
MrLuigiFercotti 4 months ago
boring robot golfers never get to no 1 it takes natural talent
eddiebutt1 4 months ago
Interesting analysis on two different types of swings. I'm just not so sure your favoritism to the mahan swing is meaningful. I'm not convinced at all that Luke's re-cocking of the wrists is "manipulation". That re-cocking is a natural reaction to gravity if you use your wrists as an oily, centrifugal hinge. Also, why is it that so many handsy players like Donald and Watson are doing so well on tour? Could it have something to with the fact that the fingers are extremely sensitive human organs?
sicilianmuse 5 months ago 2
@sicilianmuse lol im not hatin or trollin but i think u mean limbs. fingers r limbs
MaTtY40k 5 months ago
Luke is now world number one, and 10 yards longer than Manassero ... Mahan is 92nd in Driving Distance and 85th in Driving Accuracy, so it's maybe not the best 'reference'.
thez300x 6 months ago
This is called body weight transfer, it is a method that many golfers use to get rid of a bad shot, 9 times out of 10 it is a hook. Which Luke Donald used to struggle with. On the down swing he coils his legs downwards and moves his weight onto the left side to make his finish more square to the ball instead of him leaning back on the shot and simply losing his balance.
MrNickkkk94 6 months ago
who is this guy what an idiot
nealdonlan 8 months ago
@nealdonlan its luke donald, a famous pro golfer.
rigbst 6 months ago
Really enjoyed the analysis. It just goes to show how good Luke's timing is to hit the ball as well as he does.
benney7 8 months ago
This is a great video, and a great analysis. I'll have to analyze my own swing a little bit better than what I was doing before.....because I tired, of hitting sloppy, salimy fades!
d2paintballer 8 months ago
Hey would you be able to do a swing analysis of my swing if i sent you a vid. Message back please
TheMrZombiesman 8 months ago
Google Dan Whittaker Golf
ralphsunnyside 7 months ago
What a strange set of comparisons, as someone else said manessaro is probably the shortest hitter on tour and Mahan is an average ball striker. Luke has always been one of the most consistent iron players on tour, maybe we should start teaching feel rather than mechanics and we might start producing a few more great players.
garyhand1982 9 months ago
You say the modern swing is more 'functional'. Can you elaborate? Seems like the swings of Nicklaus, Snead and Weiskopf were pretty functional.
Inmotion70 9 months ago
A very keen analysis! The stalling body hand release observation - a timing nightmare in my experience. But he gets is done.
ericld11 9 months ago
Why are you using manaserro as an example of a modern swing, he hits it nowhere?!! Terrible choice for comparison
NickFaldosNephew 9 months ago
Comment removed
foxhay 9 months ago
Great analysis! Similar looking initial takeaway but great emphasis on the differences from there on....... really helping me with my understanding of my own swing!!
jaskings 11 months ago